Your letter sharing with me your thoughts on the upcoming “March for Marriage” in Washington, D.C.,
was forwarded to me while I was attending meetings out of town, and I have reflected on what you
have to say. I appreciate your affirmation of my Church’s teaching—not unique to our religion, but a truth
accessible to anyone of good will—on the intrinsic human dignity of all people, irrespective of their stage
and condition in life. That principle requires us to respect and protect each and every member of the
human family, from the precious child in the womb to the frail elderly person nearing death. It also
requires me, as a bishop, to proclaim the truth—the whole truth—about the human person and God’s will
for our flourishing. I must do that in season and out of season, even when truths that it is my duty
to uphold and teach are unpopular, including especially the truth about marriage as the conjugal union of
husband and wife. That is what I will be doing on June 19th.

With regard to your request that I not attend the March, and the reasons you give for this request, allow
me to explain the following points.